Excavator



March 2 1.926.

W. W. JON ES EXCAVATOR mmh 2, mw 1,574,820

W. W. JONES V EXCAVATOR Filed Feb. 9,1922 4 sheets-sbeet /ILT 688 March2 1926.. 1,574 820 W. W. JONES EXCAVATOR Filed Feb. 9,1922 4sheets-Sheet 4 llllllllilllllll broken away, of an embodiment of thein-f Patented Mar. Z, i926.

'liiiii'ran-Sfi sraresf- PATENT-worries.

WILLTIAM w. eonnsor roanne, onto.

Appncatioirla' February 9;"1922. serial Nb. 535,356.

as in deepening trenches or digging canals,

etc.

Referring to the draufings F 1g. 41. 1s a side elevation, with part-svention forf operatior'rI upon a fioat in a canal or ditch; k F ig. 2 isa plan view of the device of Fig. 1, partsbeing broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line lll-IH, Fig. l, on anenlargedscale,-with the ground wheel turned at 9()O from the showing inF ig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of control and operating devices onthe'forward'arm,`

for the digger, VconweyorA carrier and the Mground wheel;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan-view of features of the centeringvdevi'cefor'shift'ing the float or barge'c'entrally of the canal being cut;

Fig. 6 is a sec-tion showing-features of the centering as vwell asanchoring devices l of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a partial end elevation of the control devices for shiftingthe delivery'conveyor, which in operation -may distribute the materialexcavated along the canal bank; In t-he'embodiment of the vehicle hereinshown itis yaV fioat or mainfsupport having a circular platform 1. Thisplatform I is carried upon vtwo mainv scow or barge chamber-'carrying orprovidingmembers 2, 3.` The' member 2 has a forward chamber 4,

central vchamber 5 and a f rear chamber 6. The parallel and similar scowmember 3 has a forward chamber 7, an intermediate cham-` ber 8 and arearward chamber 9. 'The'chanr bers4 and 7 are similar, as well as thecham-V bers 6, 9, and these chambers are ones which may have the ballasttherein to vary thensubmergence of the vessel or main support. To thisend the power supply, say from the source of electrical energy from apower plant on a following barge or scow, may be supplied toswitch-board 10, which is shown as provided with reversing switches 11,12,

13, 14. Each one of these switches controls a motorv 15 connected tol apump16,`one for each chamber 4, 6, 7, 9." Accordingly',water may bepumped into or out of Aanyone of these, chambers'and thus vary thesubmergence ofthe vessel, as well as determine is leveling. Y y

This switch-board 1() is shown ashaving 'a main yswitch 16 which may bethrown in,

and thereafter if switch 17 is' thrown, power 'supply is given to motor18 which through sprocket chain gearing 2O drive l'shaft 21 at a reducedspeed. This'inain'shaft 2l for general drive, is shown as provided, withchain gearing 22 extending to drive lparallel shaft 23. Fromoperators'station adjacent the switch-board 10, there is a control lever24 connected by link 25 to throw control re.- versing clutch 23. Thisclutch may be of a type asslhown in Patent"1,001,615, Budde, 'Aug 29,1911, transmission gearing, which is of a generaltype of 'structurelplaced upon the market as The Carlyle Johnson Machine Company,Manchester,` "'Conn., marine'revierse gear. This reverse gear device 26serves to vconnectthe` shaft 23A'for l driving speed reduction worm gear27,

shaft 28, (Figs. 2, 5, 6,)"having"v thereon 'bevel gear 29 in mesh withbevel gear 30 on vertical shaft 31.'k This vertical a haft 31 carriesgear 32 inmesh with Arack bar 33 on transversely extending plungerl 34.'VSimultaneously, this gear 3:2engages rack 35 upon bar 36 parallelto'the bar 34. These 'bars 34, 36, respectively carry'shoes orieXtendedpush plates 37 on their outer ends so that in the simultaneous operativeaction bf these bars 34, 36, against opposite banks of a canal or ditch,the vessel carrying the platform 41 .is placed centrally on such ditch.

lVhen'the scow or barge has been placedin`the"`central position, lever3,8 atthe operatingstation may be'thrown to be effective through link39, reversing clutchl 40',i"sim ilar to thefclutch 26, for' renderingeifective the sprocket chain gear 41 from the shaft 21 driving shaft 42andI through speed reduction gearing 43 operates shaft 44 ,connectedthrough sprocket chain gearing 45 to drive'pinion 46ra'ising or loweringVspud 48. In this instance, when the push bars 34, 36, have effected''centering by opposite travelingagainst the'banks of the stream, thisspud or'anchor 48'may be driven downward for a pivot central anchor inholding the main support in position in the canal or stream. The handlever 88 may be thrown off to leave this spud 48 in its anchored downposition while tlre hand lever 24 from olf posit-ion may be thrown tothe reverse drive for drawing in the arms 84, 36, thereby leaving thescow or the main platform 1 free for swinging upon this anchoring spud48.

With the platform 1 anchored centrally of the canal and at its desiredlevel, it is in order next to determine the angular position of theplatform 1 as to the canal. This platform 1 has a forwardly extendingarm 49. It may be desirable to swing this arm to an angular position inthe canal for locating a point of starting in swinging the platform intoposition or in such form as may be desired. Inasmuch as this arm carriesthe ground wheel it is desirable to determine the level of the positionof this ground wheel as to the ground upon which it is to travel. Tothis end at the main operating station is control lever 59 connected bylink 51 to reverse gearing clutch 52 similar to reverse gear clutch 26.This reverse gear clutch 52 is effective for transmitting power from theshaft 21 which is connected by sprocket chain gearing 53 to shaft 54.From this shaft 54 drive, a bevel gear 55 connects bevel gear 56 ontransverse shaft 57 as to the arm 49. This arm 49, (Fig. 2) in itsextent forwardly of the platform 1 carries the mechanism for the controlof the ground wheel. This shaft 57 on this forwardly extending arm 49has worm wheel adjustment 58 for operating screw 59`A and likewisesimilar worm wheel adjustment 69 for operating screw 61. These screws59. 61, serve to reciprocate cross bracket 62 having central bearing 63carrying yoke 64 for ground wheel 65. Accordingly, as this yoke 62 iselevated the ground wheel 65 is lifted off the ground for leveling thefloat or platform 1, while upon reverse throwing of this Acontrol lever59 the ground wheel 65 may be thrust downward to ground engagingposition.

To effect directing of the ground wheel 65 in the desired direction, apower drive is provided. Frein the main operators station adjacent theswitch-board 19 the operator may throw reversing switch 66 and therebyenergize motor 67 connected through speed reduction gearing 68 to driveshaft 69. The operator at said main station may then throw lever 79effective through link 71, angle lever 72, link 78 and lever 74 forthrowing clutch 75, (Figs. 2, 8, 4,) and thereby connect sprocketgearing 76 to drive shaft 77 carried by the crosshead 62 parallel withthe shaft 57. This shaft 77 carries worm 78 in mesh with worm wheel 79fast with the bearing 63 on the yoke 64 of the ground wheel 65.Accordingly, this ground wheel with its yoke 64 may be shifted into anyangular position as to the forwardly projecting arm 49 by the operationof the motor 67 in one direction or the other as determined by theswitch 66 and as thrown in by the clutch from the hand lever 79 at themain driving station.

lWhen the direction or this top range position is determined for thisground wheel 65 the hand lever 70 may be given a throw for shifting theclutch 75 from neutral position away from the driving of the yoke 64into position effective for connecting the shaft 69 through gearing` 89to drive shaft- 81 parallel with the shaft 57. This shaft 81 carried bythe yoke 62 has bevel pinion in mesh with bevel pinion 88 on verticalstem 84 (Fig. 3) centrally of the bearing 68. rThis stem 84 at its lowerend carries bevel pinion 85 in mesh with bevel pinion on shaft 87transversely of the fork 64 carrying the ground wheel 65. This shaft 87is effective through sprocket chain gearing 88 for positively drivingthe ground wheel 65. Accordingly, when it is desired to pull forward, ifthe ground wheel 65 be directed in line with the arm 49 it is effective.The switch 66 may be thrown out or else the lever 79 may be operated todisconnect the clutch 75 for driving. If the platform 1 is to be shiftedangularly, then this ground wheel 65 would be directed to posit-iontransversely of this arm 49 and t-he platform 1 would be swung upon thespud or anchoring pin 48 as an axis.

)Vith the main platform 1 thus properly located, it is now in order todirect the digger and elevator apparatus into position. To this end, atthe main operators station, control lever 89 may be shifted and thusthrough link 99 operate reversing gear and clutch 91 similar to theclutch reversing gear 26. There is thus connected through gearing 92from the main shaft 21 a drive for the shaft 93 effective through wofmgearing 94 for operating transverse shaft 95 extending across theopening between the main floats or pontoons 2, 9, in radial alignmentwith the arm 49. This shaft 95 has pinions 96 in mesh with racks 97 foroperating main carrier 98 having' sustaining wheels 99 operating onguide 199 for effecting travel of this main carrier 98 radially inwardor outward as to the arm 49.

This shaft 95 also has therefrom sprocket gearing 191 to sha ft 102below the main platform 1. rfhis shaft 192 has thereon pinions 198 inmesh with rack 194 eifeet've for thrusting scoop as the lower portion ofthe frame to a forward position, or upon reversal it may be retracted asmay be found desirable. This reversal is effected by opposite throwingof lever 89 at the main operating station.

For determining the depth or position of the sco'op 195 below theplatform 1 of the .main support, reverse switcli* '106 atrtlie' main`ing station'may be* thrownforr'operating motor 107 upon carrier 98.This motor 10T is "connected :through' sprocket A chain reducl .inggearing-108 to drive-shaft'109".y This determination ofthecuttinode othfor Ithe o i# eration of the excavat'oris usually one which ismaintained oncev the. structure is placed intol use.. Accordingly,intend of the control eXte-nding to thev main 'operating station suchcontrol may be upon trie' carrier 98. To this endclutcharm 110'niaybetlirown '.for connecting the shaft 109 to"sprocket chain-gearing 111vfor .driving worin speed reduction. 112 in 'operating shaft 118transversely ofthecarrier orcarriage 98 and parallel to the shaft 57.rlfhe transverse shaft 118 has pinionsllt in mesh with rack `bars 3115downw-ardly extending between the scow sections 2, 3, in the arm 49toconnect to, upstanding cheeks or shields 116 from :the scoop 105.

For operation ofthe elevator from the scoop 105, 116, switch 117 rat themain switch* board 10 may be thrown in to start motor 118 connected byspeed reduction gearing Linountingthe motor 118 and the drive shaft "i120 of this elevator conveyor 121, 122. This frame 124: has guide l125in its sides coacting with guide shaft 126-carri-ed by the ups-tandingbrackets 127 from 'the deck 1 of this ves- 2 sel orfmain`supporta'wliereby the travel of Lthecarriage 98 radially inand Vout fromthe f-ce'ntral position' of. this main platform 1, ...whilemaintainingthe scoop 105 ata fixed .trench depth position will carelforYthe inyclinations of this conveyor but .still hold the `conveyor orelevator inposition tofdeliver to `hopper 128.

The Adigger. oi actual slicing Voperation' may becontrolled from themain operat- .ingffstation afterithefeeding depth is determined for thescoop 105, 116,,the clutch 1 110 may be thrown outwand the vclutch 129thrown in. Accordingly, when vfrornnthe mai'n operating station. theswitch 106 is thrown th'emoto-r 107 is effective through gearing 108clutch. 129. andwsprocket chain gearing 180 to drive through worm reducivtion gearing 131.transverseshaft.182 carryingfpinions 183 in meshwith-rack bars 184 downwardly extending to cutter or .digger 135operable as vaislicer with its loweredge 136 enteringthesoih which, assliding up- .ward--therein--.may be urgedfoutward by I.curved part 187yand 'held by cheek 188 to fall YAbetweenthecheeks 116 ofthe scoop 105,to the slide 122 of the elevator. The main oprepetition of the stepsforward continuii e-rator-1nay control the downward cutting ofthe-slice`r`185 by throwing in, out, and reversing the switch 106without`reshifting` the clutch, which willliftthe cutter for repetitionof the operation. Before the operation is repeated, a desired forwardpull of the platform 1 through `the wheel 65, may be effected throughthe hand lever 70.

lVhen the limit of forward cutting, as determined by the arm 49 isattained, the. caiIN iiage 98 may be retracted or left at its forwardposition. Preferably it is retracted to getthe slicer and Ascoop out ofrange and when so retracted the ground wheel in the position shown inFig. 1, may be driven to swing the platform 1 upon its pivot 18, adistance suoli that the cutter or digger 135 may widen the cut alreadymade in a 'the digging or excavating operation. The soil or materialwhich is'sliced down or cut by the digger 135, falls with a minimum of'disturbance as to the suriounding water, between the shields 11G of thescoop 105, and so may be directly elevated out of the water with aminimum thereof being dissolved into the water or thrown into thestream. Accordingly, there is a reduced amount of silt and this mud iselevated by the flights 122 to fall into the hopper 128.

` The excavated material as delivered into the hopper 128 may becontinuously disposed of therefrom by delivery to a scew in the rear orupon a bank of the canal or ditch, or on either bank of the canal orditch. rThe hopper 128 is mounted on a turn-table 189, from whichextends a radial arm 110, the outer or free end of which is carried bybracket 1412 extending to roller 1113 swingvable or traveling upon track14h1- cn .the main Athe'turn-table 139. fnasmuch as the switch 148 is a.reversing` switch it will determine the direction of travel of the wheel1113 in swinging the arm toward a bank or as to position as desired inthe swinging of the platform v1, even for loading a following barge orfor rear ll.

lith the position of the arm 1-'10 determined, the conveyor for removingmaterial from the hopper 128 may be thrown into operation. To this end,switch 151 on the switch-board 1110 may berthrown for starting motor 152connected through speed re- Cil ducing gearing 153, 154-, for drivingshaft- 155 over which extends endless conveyor belt 156 carried by thearm 140. rI`he idle or inward end of this co veyor 156 is about guideshaft 157 mounted in the turn-table end of the frame or arm 140. A

The operator upon the track 141:5 may care for avoidance of any cloggingin the hopper 128 as Well as determine the position of this arm 145 ingiving proper distribution of material upon the bank at differentangular' shiftings of the main support or platform 1, not only fordistribution along one bank, but as to along either ban The disclosureas herein has special value for operating in alluvial soil, moreparticularly in the region of the delta of the li/ississippi, whereinthe top soil is very loose and porous with a sub-soil which is morefirm. The great ditliculty in such soil is that there may be agitationand disturbance of the loose soil for it to run freely back into theditch or trench is cut, thereby filling in such trench anc. defeatingthe entire end for the irrigation process. The machine as hereindisclosed is one which vill handle such loose soil and take it out ofthe ditch, trench, or canal, and in practice, the canal depth may bedetermined actually by the amount of soil to be removed, and such soilactually removed by the digger, elevator and conyeyor apparatus asherein disclosed. By adjusting the position of the elevator theinclination of the digger may be determined and thereby the angle ofrepose for the bank may be such as one not readily to be disturbed, butto be maintained in practice against erosion.

If it be desired to provide a canal which will retain Water by a sort oflevee at the bank, the porous superficial soil may be removed and thesubsoil placed on the bank as a water tight levee. lhetlier or not thebanks of the cut have a key therein to receive an impervious deposit toprei/ent surface seepage, the material as removed may pack down forforming a tight bank or levee, Which will require little if anytreatment to give it a smooth finished form for a covering of grass torender it more substantial against erosion.

There is not a tendency to produce large hardened or compressed clods orchunks. The cutting from the top down does not compress or disturb thesoil removed, but, merely severs it from its position in the surroundingsoil. rihe thickness of the cuts for each slice may be varied or beconstant. ',lhe material as rolling` toward the boat .from the slicer tofall between the flights down upon the elevator has a minimum tendencyto roil the Water, and due to the continuous travel of the elevator, atonce it falls there toward, is picked up with no tendency to maceratebut to be elevated in practically the same shaving orblock size assliced olf. The deposit from this first conveyor or elevator into thehopper is not one tending to break these fragments, and the secondconveyor, in receiving these shaved masses, may deliver such directlyupon the bank or levee, to have such fall into compact relation Witheach other, thereby having a minimum of voids for any seepagetherethrough. This material being uncompressed and in practically thesame condition as to the fragments as such material of they fragmentshad before removed, there is present all the elements for homogenousbank or levee production.

The method herein disclosed for removing the soil by cutting down hasconsiderable advantage as to the sides of the ditch or canal, in thatthe original stratification at such cut is not disturbed. The digger inworking down merely shaves ofi the section of soil. In the particularinstance as heretofore disclosed, wherein the top soil is quite friableand porous, with a more compact but readily removable subsoil, thecutter may pass directly through the loose material Without fracturingsuch material as to sul layer and then proceed on down to the requireddepth in the sub-layer of layers. This preservation of the strata lineat the ditch or canal banks is a material factor against bank slopedisintegration.

As to the vehicle or pontoon vessel proper as herein disclosed, theremay be operation With practical elimination of boat lunges to disturbthe bank. 0n@ factor in this steadying is the ground Wheel. Anotherimportant factor in this steadying is that the Working load is disposedSo centrally of the vessel that even when Working alongone bank of thecanal instead of straight ahead, there is not a tendency to rock thecraft. The vessel lines up with its Working direction at all times as tothe cutting or digging. The two elevators operate continuously so thereis not accumulation of load only so far as the digger operatesintermittently. The digger operation is not one tending to depress thevessel at the digging point but any tendency Would be one to lift.However, the Working arm has considerable Weight acting as a leverforwardly thereof which Within preferred ranges of operation, shouldabsolutely neutralize unbalaneing tendency which might agitate the Waterabout the vessel. ylhe speed of operation as Well as the rate thereof,not only as to thickness of slicing but the rapidity with which suchoccur, may have the Wide range of variation according to the soil asWell as the capacity or power of the equipment hereunder as to theparticular embodiment or installation.

v `What is claimed and it is desired to secure by United States LettersPatent is:

1. A support, an endless conveyor provided with flights, a frame for theconveyor carried by the supportand projecting therebelow into positionfor working, and shield providing means for holding the traine downwardaway from the support and into the position for working.

2. A support, an endless lconveyor provided with iights,a trame for theconveyor carried by the support and projecting therebelow, and shieldproviding actuating means tor shifting the frame as to the support, saidactuating means including a movable raclr bar between the trame and thesupport.

3. A support, an endless conveyor provided with iights, a frame for theconveyor carried by the support and projecting below the support, ascoop carried by the trame at the lower extremity thereof, and shieldproviding thrusting actuating means engaging the trame adjacent thescoop tor forcing and holding the conveyor, trame, and scoopY away fromthe support.

4. A float support, an endless conveyor provided with flights, a trameJlor the conveyor carried by the support and projecting therebelow intoposition 'for working, and power means for varying the submergence ofthe support including a shield extending b-elow the support and havinghinge engagement with said conveyor.

5. A support, a first endless conveyor provided with nights, a trame forthe conveyor carried by the support and projecting therebelow intoposition for working, a second conveyor to which the lirst conveyor maydeliver, means for swinging the second conveyor as to the firstconveyor, a digger, and a shield between .the digger and t-he firstconveyor for r-eceiving directly all diggings from the digger, saidshield being connected to the `first conveyor and adjustable fordetermining the position of the lirst conveyor as to the support.

6. A support, a holder for the support, an endless conveyor providedwith flights, a frame for the conveyor carried by the support andprojecting therebelow into position for working, means for angularlyshifting on a vertical axis the support as to the holder for wideningthe eliective position for working, and a slicing device for looseningand directing material to the conveyor.

7. A float support, pivotal anchoring means therefor, a conveyorprovided with liights, a frame for the Conveyor carried by thesupport,'and projecting therebelow to a position for working, and meansfor swinging the support on its pivotal anchoring means as a verticalaXis in effecting a swath range for the conveyor.

8.. A i'loat support, a locating means for the support, pivotalanchoring means for holding the support located, a conveyor providedwith lights, a trame for the conveyor carried by the support andprojecting therebelow to a position Jfor working, and means for swingingthe support on its pivotal anchoring means as a vertical axis foreiiecting a swath range tor the conveyor.

9. A support, an endless conveyor provided with iiighte, frame for theconveyor carried by the support and projecting therebelow into positionfor working, and means for adjusting the conveyor as to the supportwhile maintaining the range oi' projection therebelow, said meansincluding a rack bar and shield pivotally connected to the frame remotefrom the support and a pinion for shitting said bar.

10. An excavator embodying a float support, a digger carrying arm, and asupport shitting ground wheel carried by the arm.

11. An excavator embodying a float support, means anchoring the supportfor swinging, a digger carrying arm, and a ground wheel for' swingingthe support on a vertical axis.

l2. An excavator embodying a float support, means anchoring the supportfor swinging on a vertical axis, release means for the anchoring means,a digger carrying arm, and a ground wheel for swinging t-he support onsaid vertical axis.

18. An .excavator embodying a main support, an elevating conveyor, atrame tor the conveyor, a hopper to which the conveyor delivers on avertical artis, a hold-er for the support permitting swinging oic theconveyor relatively thereto, and means for adjusting the conveyor towardand from the hopper in addition to said swinging.

14. An excavator embodying a main support, a first conveyor, a trame forthe first conveyor, a hopper to which the first conveyor delivers, meansfor adjusting the iirst conveyor toward and from the hopper, a secondconveyor to which the hopper delivers, a digger, and a shield havingcheeks ei;- tending between the digger and the first conveyor fordirecting all of the diggings into the first conveyor, said cheeks beingpivotally connected to said iirst conveyor.

15. An excavator embodying a main support, a lirst conveyor, a frame forthe irst conveyor, a hopper to which the lirst conveyor delivers, meansfor adjusting the lirst conveyor toward and from the hopper, a secondconveyor to which the hopper delivers, and means ior swinging the secondconveyor with the hopper relatively to the first conveyor on a verticalaXis.

16. A float carried excavator, a slicer digger carried thereby, a shieldextending 'from the digger for holding the diggings, and an elevator forthe diggings to which elevator the shield is pivotally connected.

17. A oat carried excavator, a slicer digger carried thereby, anelevator for removing sliced material, and a shield extending from thedigger to the elevator for holding diggings from dispersal, said shieldbeing movable relatively to the elevator.

V18. A iioat carried excavator, a slicer digger carried thereby, anelevator for removing sliced material, a continuous drive for theelevator, and a shield extending from the digger to the elevator forholding diggings from dispersal, said shield being movable relatively tothe elevator.

19. An excavator embodying a float, a Slicer digger carried by thefloat, an elevator vcarried by the lioa-t for removing sliced material,means for shifting the digger and elevator relatively angularly as tothe iioat, and a shield extending from the digger to the elevator forholding diggings from dispersa-l, said shield being movable relativelyto the elevator.

20. An excavator embodying a main support, a pair of overhangingrelatively angularly extending arms carried thereby, a conveyor carriedby one oi2 the arms, and means for horizontally swinging .one of saidarms as to the other on a vertical axis.

2l. An excavator embodying a main support, a pair of overhangingrelatively angularly radially extending arms carried there-l by,conveyors carried by the arms, and means lor swinging each of the armsas to the support, one of said conveyors embodying a frame shiftablealong its arm, said swinging of the arms being on a vertical axis.

22. An excavator embodying a main support, an overhanging radial armproviding a guide, a digger carried by said guide, and a shield Carriedby the guide and as to which shield the digger is movable, and anelevator as to which the shield is movable in adjusting said elevator.

23. An excavator embodying a main snpport, holding means therefor, anoverhang ing radial arm providing a guide, a digger carried by saidguide, a convevor carried by the arm, a frame for the conveyor, meansfor shifting the conveyor as to the arm and additional means forsniinging the conveyor as to the holding means on a vertical axis.

2li. An excavator embodying ,a main sup port, an overhanging armradially extending from the support, an arc guide on the support for thearm, a conveyor carried by the arm, and means for actuating the arm totravel on said guide in directing the conveyor for swinging on avertical axis.

25. .An excavator embodying a main support, support shifting andanchoring means, digging means, power mechanism, and a single operatorsstation for controlling the mechanism in operating said different means.

In witness whereof I aiix my signature.

VILLIAM lV. JONES.

